Baidu Proposes Spin-off of Kunlunxin for Separate Listing on HKEX to Enhance AI Chip Market Value

The analyst rating from BofA Securities is based on the strong business outcomes driven by BIDU-SW's AI technology development. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported a significant increase in revenue from its new AI businesses, with overall growth exceeding 50% year-over-year, reaching around RMB10 billion. Key contributors to this growth included a 128% increase in AI high-performance computing facility subscription revenue and a 262% surge in AI-native marketing service revenue. As a result of these positive developments, BofA Securities reiterated a Buy rating and raised its target price for Baidu from USD100 to USD151 and for BIDU-SW from HKD98 to HKD148.

The analyst rating from Daiwa for BIDU-SW (09888.HK) is a "Buy" due to several factors. Despite Baidu Core revenue for 3Q25 declining by 9.5% year-over-year, the company's operating profit slightly exceeded expectations, benefiting from other income and tax incentives. Additionally, the report highlights the growth in cloud services revenue and the announcement of new financial disclosures for AI-native products. Although Daiwa lowered Baidu's EPS estimates for FY2026-27 by 3-4% based on revised R&D expenditure forecasts, they still raised the target price from HKD158 to HKD162, indicating confidence in the company's future performance.

The analyst rating for BIDU-SW (09888.HK) was kept at "Outperform" despite a reduction in the adjusted EPS forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 19% and 10%, respectively. This decision is supported by the company's strong performance in its AI-empowered business, which saw revenue from new AI businesses increase by over 50% year-over-year to approximately RMB10 billion. The growth was primarily driven by advancements in AI cloud infrastructure, AI applications, and AI-native marketing services, indicating a positive outlook for the company's future performance in the AI sector.

The analyst rating from BOCI for BIDU-SW (Baidu) is a "Buy" due to several factors highlighted in their research report. The company's 3Q25 results were in line with expectations, with total revenue decreasing by 7% year-over-year, which was slightly better than market forecasts. Notably, while advertising revenue declined by 18% YoY, non-advertising revenue increased by 21%, indicating a shift in revenue sources. Additionally, the AI-driven business revenue surged by 50% YoY, showcasing Baidu's success in AI commercialization. The adjusted operating profit margin of 7.1% also met expectations. Based on these results, BOCI raised its target price for Baidu from USD133 to USD137, reinforcing their positive outlook on the stock.